Stay On the Right Track!

Acts 16:19a- “¹⁹ When the men who owned the servant girl saw this, they realized that they could no longer use her to make money.”

Yesterday I wrote about the young woman who was possessed by a demon spirit which could tell of the future.  Paul rebuked this spirit and it left her.  Today’s message focuses on the aftermath of her freedom. This young girl was the possession of more than one man and they used her to make money.  They had no regard for any torment that she might have suffered because of her ‘gift’ nor did they value her as a person, but rather as a commodity to be used for their financial gain.

Are you in a situation where your boss makes unnecessary and unfair rules to govern over you with an iron fist? Does it seem that you have to almost give up of your entire self in order to keep your job or to maintain a certain relationship; or to fit into a particular crowd?  Do those who claim to have your best interests at heart seem to lull over the fact that you might be in a desperate or compromising situation and therefore must succumb to their governing in order to stay afloat?  God tell us from this passage that relief is near. The demon in her kept speaking “at the truth”. What did her masters have to gain from allowing her to speak about Paul and Silas’ ministry of salvation?  Why did they allow her to continue to follow this upstart group of radicals?  God used them in an ultimate plan to demonstrate the power of prayer and the personal relationship he has with his believers.  The young girl followed them daily. She knew there was salvation in what they taught and although the spirit operating within her was not subject to her will; it was indeed subject to the will of God as demonstrated through the faith Paul had in Jesus. 

     It is amazing how the devil will try to throw you off balance.  In my own prayer time I have focused recently on my immediate future and seeking guidance for patience as God does what God does best – work miracles. Well it is uncanny how for the past week I have been inundated with emails from unknown and unsolicited sources telling me about horoscope sites and links to modern day prophets who can tell me all that I need to know about my future job, relocation and love life. They claim to even help me identify false friends and deceivers. I don’t malign those who rely on horoscope readings to plan their lives – it seems fruitless to me but I will tell you that to delve into the arena of the occult can be unfulfilling and dangerous.  The young girl might have been looking for answers and she found it in the faith Paul had to deliver her. When you are looking for answers don’t’ relay on horoscopes, tarot cards, psychic readings and fortune tellers.  There are true prophets in the land, but there are many more false prophets and those that use demonic means to appear righteous.  Guard your soul and protect yourself by just trusting and waiting on God.  His word is sure and he never charges you $5.99 per minute to get his advice.   Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!  Be blessed! Dr. JoAnn